"This is a civil lawyer." - Memphis, page 8

Litigates cases of civil or private rights vs. criminal law which deals with crimes and their punishments.

https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/justice-studies/blog/civil-law-versus-criminal-law/

" . . the only way they can do anything is to wait on their income tax return." - Memphis, page 9

Income taxes are taxes on income, both earned and unearned, paid to the government. Income tax can be required by both individuals and businesses. An income tax return can be granted to individuals and businesses that paid more taxes than necessary.

https://apps.irs.gov/app/understandingTaxes/student/glossary.jsp

"I treated that woman like she was the Queen of Sheba." - Memphis, page 10

The Queen of Sheba comes from the religious texts of the Jewish, Christian and Muslim people. It is thought that she came from either Ethiopia or Yemen, scholars believe she may have ruled both kingdoms. Ethiopian culture believes that their monarchy is a direct and unbroken line to her first born son.

https://www.pbs.org/mythsandheroes/myths_four_sheba.html

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Queen-of-Sheba

"Half the time he dump the body out and bring the casket back to sell it again." - Memphis, page 12

Any individual that plans to or does steal from a grave or cemetery can be charged with the following offenses:

1. Interfering with a cemetery or burial ground

2. Unlawful possession or sale of gravestones

3. Interfering with a memorial plaque

4. Unlawfully possessing, purchasing, or selling a memorial plaque

5. Criminal mischief

6. Larceny

7. Conspiracy

Depending on the severity of each case the accused it eligible to receive anywhere from 3 months to 20 years in jail, as well as a $500 to $15,000 fine.

https://www.cga.ct.gov/2012/rpt/2012-R-0043.htm

"I can't go out there in Squirrel Hill and open up a restaurant." - Memphis, page 14

Squirrel Hill is a primary white, middle class neighborhood in Pittsburg. Squirrel Hill is also the locational home of The Tree of Life Synagogue, where a terrorist attack on the Jewish community occurred on October 27, 2018.

https://shuc.org/demographics/

https://shuc.org/

"Hell, I'm liable to do like the white folks do and get cremated."- Wolf, page 16

The first crematory in America was built in the late nineteenth century in Washington, Pennsylvania. The second crematory in the country was founded in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Around the turn of the 20th century, crematories were commonly build in mainly major cities, including Pittsburgh.

https://www.cremationassociation.org/page/HistoryOfCremation

"That's what the welfare casket was." - Memphis, page 17

Welfare caskets are provided by the government to lower income citizens, as known as indigent citizens. In the early 20th century, pine box caskets cost about $16 (or $400 today). In the 1950s about 75% of the caskets being made in the country, were made from wood. Most of these wood caskets were being made from local sources and the industry employed thousands of workers.

http://www.dhs.pa.gov/citizens/burialandcremationservicespayment/index.htm

https://www.northwoodscasket.com/northwoodscasket/2011/03/brief-history-of-caskets.html

Welfare caskets are also known as a pauper's casket, or a very poor person.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pauper

"That's a poor man's casket. What you call a pauper's casket." - West, page 96

"I went over to J&L Steel and they told me I got to join the union before I could work." - Sterling, page 22

The Jones and Laughlin Steel Company was founded in 1852 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jones_and_Laughlin_Steel_Company

"I went down to the union..." - Sterling, page 22

The union for steel workers operates on principles surrounding better wages, safer working conditions, equal treatment and employment security.

"Go up there and you'll see a red door" - Holloway, page 23

A red door symbolizes that a home is welcoming, in Scotland it means that the home is debt-free

In the Biblical chapter, Exodus, the Lord gives instructions to Moses signifying the beginning of the Jewish holiday known as the Passover. The Lord instructs the Israelites to slaughter an pure, sacrificial lamb and place its blood above the front door of each home on the 10th day of the month. He informs them that families that do this will be passed over by God, and their first born child will not be struck down. Doing this was seen as a sign of obedience and having confidence in God. The red door symbolizes the protection of God.

“On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. 13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt" (Exodus 12:12)

https://biblicalwoman.com/red-door/

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+12&version=NIV

https://www.humoroushomemaking.com/the-red-door-significance

"She tell you to go down and throw it into the river" - Holloway, page 25

"If you give up your lust for money and throw your precious gold into the river, 25 the Almighty himself will be your treasure. He will be your precious silver!" (Job 22:24-25)

https://biblehub.com/nlt/job/22.htm

"They ran me out of Jackson in '31. I hung around Natchez for three or four years..." - Memphis, page 30

Jackson is the Capital in Mississippi. Natchez is also a city in Mississippi set on the Mississippi River.

"They got the right of eminent domain." - West, page 37

The government has the power to obtain any private property in order to convert is for pubic use, as long as the property owner is compensated. During the 60s, the Pittsburg government relocated 1,500 businesses and more than 5,000 families.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/eminent_domain

http://old.post-gazette.com/businessnews/20000521eastliberty1.asp

"Anybody take a razor and cut up on herself ain't right" - Memphis, page 31

Self-scarring in some African cultures represents identity within specific tribes, families and it regarded as an honor. As more people move into the cities, this practice is going out of style and often times leads to social isolation against those that are scarred. Scarring is primarily used in areas where the people are too dark for tattoo ink to show on the skin.

"I don't care if he was King Kong or Mighty Joe Young." - Sterling, page 45

The original King Kong filmed was produced in 1933 by Merian C. Cooper from Florida.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/king-kong-unbelievable-true-story-hollywoods-favorite-giant-ape-984785

Mighty joe Young was produced in 1949, also created by Merian C. Cooper.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041650/

"Put a little salt in the glass. They last longer then." - Sterling, page 59

By adding salt to the water in a vase of flowers, it helps draw water out of the bacteria leaving them struggling to maintain survival.

https://www.prestigeflowers.co.uk/flower_press/salt-cut-flowers/

"United we stand . . . divided we fall." - Sterling, page 59

The phrase originated in the John Dickinson ballad, The Liberty Song, during the American Revolution in the 18th century. During the Civil War the phrase was adopted by the Union Army.

https://amhistory.si.edu/1942/campaign/campaign24.html

In December 1962, Malcolm X gave a speech reciting the words "United we stand" in criticism of its exclusivity of the minority population by white people.

"'United We Stand,' that doesn't mean you. That means the white man. The white man it the one who stands united."

http://www.edchange.org/multicultural/speeches/malcolm_x_history.html

"This a regulation United States Army gas can." - Sterling, page 60

Also known as a Jerrycan, that had been utilized by the US military since World War II.

All military bases in Pennsylvania are located on the eastern side of the state, Pittsburgh is on the west. The only military based found in in close proximity to Pittsburgh is the Oakdale Air Force Station that was activated in 1960; it was closed in1969.

https://www.jerrycan.com/faqs/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oakdale_Air_Force_Station

"Have my picture in the paper for racketeering." - Memphis, page 61

Crimes of extortion or coercion. A common type of racketeering is known as a numbers racket which is "a form of illegal gambling in which a corrupt dealer colludes with his associates disguised as gamblers to cheat other unsuspecting gamblers off their money."

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/racketeering.asp

"Sold bootleg liquor and ran numbers too." - West, page 83

Liquor that is illegally distilled and sold. Ex. Moonshine. To sell illegal liquor is called "rum-running" or "bootlegging".

https://www.thefreedictionary.com/Bootleg+liquor

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rum-running